Jan. 2, 2014

Special collection set for Sunday, Jan. 12 to aid construction of Haiti’s cathedral

Bishop Dean Wolfe encourages everyone in the diocese to join in an effort across the Episcopal Church on Jan. 12 to help the Diocese of Haiti rebuild its cathedral.

On that day, all congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas are asked to take up a special collection for Holy Trinity Cathedral.

In announcing the special collection, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said, “As Haiti prepares to mark the fourth anniversary of the devastating earthquake in 2010, I will call the whole of The Episcopal Church to pray and give in solidarity with our largest diocese.”

The Presiding Bishop said that even while there is great need across Haiti, the diocese has asked that this be the priority for the Episcopal Church. She says, “For all Haitians, not only Episcopalians, Holy Trinity has a place in their hearts, daily lives, and worship that celebrates the God-given dignity of every human being. The rebuilt cathedral will again be a center that celebrates the gifts of God in this particular cultural context, through the arts, music, and liturgy, and offers hope to new generations.”

A bulletin insert about the special collection is available to offer parishioners more information; a two-per-page PDF is attached.

Jan. 3 is deadline for scholarship aid requests from clergy children

Jan. 3 is the deadline for clergy children to apply for a Father Young Fund grant for the spring semester. All students interested in receiving an award from the Father Young Fund should send a letter addressed to Bishop Wolfe stating:

  • Who they are (their relationship to a clergy person in the diocese);
  • Where they are attending school;
  • Their year in school; and
  • What they plan to study.

Awards from the Father Young Fund are sent directly to the student at their home address in the third week of January.

Guidelines for applying for assistance from the Father Young Fund:

  • Assistance will be provided for eight semesters of undergraduate work only.
  • Assistance is normally reserved for students attending Kansas colleges or universities.
  • Application for the spring academic term is to be made no later than Jan. 3; for the fall term, no later than Aug. 1.
  • According to the conditions of the original gift, this fund can only be used for children of clergy canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
  • Once enrolled in college, a student becomes eligible to apply for assistance from the Father Young Fund.Assistance has averaged $750 - $1,000 each semester and is based on the number applying and the amount of interest earned on the fund.

To apply, each semester the student should send a letter to the bishop before the closing date. As soon as all applications have been received from the students, the amount of financial assistance will be determined, and a check will be sent to the student.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Atha at or (785) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.

Youth news

Miqra registrations are due Monday! Jan. 18-20 at Grace Cathedral and St. David’s in Topeka. For youth in grades 6-12. MIQRA (meek-rah) is a weekend retreat that focuses on the Bible and allows teens to discover what’s in it, why we should care and how to read it. This year’s educational focus will be on the New Testament. Registrations are due Monday, Jan. 6 and are available online at

Workshops for Miqra needed. Do you have a passion about the New Testament that you would like to share with our youth? We need eight educational (and fun!) workshops for senior high students and eight for junior high students during Miqra. Contact Karen Schlabach if you’re interested, or 913-708-5927.

New Beginnings rector applications now available. Do you know a junior or senior in high school who loved going to New Beginnings as a middle schooler? We're looking for applicants to be rectors of the next New Beginnings on March 28-30. The application is online at Applications are due to Teresa Rogers while at Miqra or by Jan. 17. If you have more questions, contact Teresa using the information on the application.

Summer youth ministry internship applications now available. Do you know a college student interested in pursuing a vocation in ministry? If so, ask them if they are interested in applying for the Summer Youth Ministry Internship. Applications are dueFeb. 28. Learn more about the program and how to apply at

Clergy news

The Rev. Dean P. Stone, who served at St. Michael and All Angels for a number of years, died on Dec. 31. A service celebrating his life is set for Monday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. at the church, 6630 Nall Avenue in Mission, with Bishop Dean Wolfe officiating.

More information on Father Stone’s life and ministry will be sent as soon as it is available.

Upcoming classes offered at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry

The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, the joint school operated by the Dioceses of Kansas, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas, offers a variety of classes in the coming months.

If you are interested in attending any of these for personal enrichment, contact the dean, the Very Rev. Andrew Grosso, at or (913) 367-3171.

Jan. 11-12: ETHC 100: Christian Ethics Survey (The Rev. Andrew O’Connor); MINI 800: Missional Ecclesiology (The Very Rev. Craig Loya); THEO 200: Doctrine of God (Dr. Steven Crain)

Feb. 8-9: ETHC 200: Contemporary Ethics (Dr. Don Compier); MINI 200: Homiletics (The Rev. George Pejakovich); HIST 400: Modernity & After (The Rev. Dr. George Wiley)

March 8-9: BIBL 200: New Testament Survey (Dr. Jim Lewis); HIST 100: Church History Survey (The Rev. Dr. George Wiley); THEO 400: Doctrine of Salvation (Dr. Bill Stancil)

April 5-6: BIBL 210: Gospel Traditions (Dr. David May); THEO 100: Church Dogmatics Survey (The Rev. Ben Varnum); THEO 500: Ecclesiology (Dr. Don Compier)

May 10-11: ETHC 100: Christian Ethics Survey (The Rev. Andrew O’Connor); BIBL 220: Pauline Epistles (The Rev. Dr. Richard McCandless); MINI 600: Parish Administration (The Rev. Gar Demo)

Survey asks your opinion about the location of the Episcopal Church Center

The Executive Council Subcommittee on the Location of the Episcopal Church Center has issued a survey and is inviting Episcopalians to offer their input.

The survey is available at

In announcing the survey the subcommittee notes, “In 2012, the General Convention expressed its desire that the Episcopal Church Center be moved out of its current building located at 815 Second Ave in New York City. In response to this call, the Executive Council has charged a subcommittee to explore and report back options for the relocation of the Episcopal Church’s staff. This survey will gather broad input from the Church in choosing a future that best serves the mission and ministry of our Church.”

The deadline to take the survey is Jan. 19.

Church Foundation offers webinar series on leadership and finances

The Episcopal Church Foundation is offering a variety of web conferences this winter to assist congregations in developing leadership and financial resources. They are designed for clergy and lay leaders.

Upcoming webinars include:

  • Vestry Orientation (Jan. 7 and Feb. 18, 6-7 p.m. CST).This web conference will help you understand roles, responsibilities and best practices for vestries.
  • Transformation by Capital Campaign (Jan. 28, 6-7 p.m. CST). This webinar will share the secrets of conducting a capital campaign successfully, and how the process can have long lasting positive influences on stewardship, lay leadership and focused vision.
  • Vision & Planning (Feb. 4, 6-7 p.m. CST) What is the difference between a congregation's "mission" and its "vision"? This web conference focuses on the basic principles of a vision and planning process.
  • Basics of Parish Finances (Feb. 5, 6-7 p.m. CST). This workshop will offer a broad overview of the most important aspects of parish finance and will share how your parish can improve in this vital aspect of its mission.
  • Year Round Stewardship:Talking About Money When You're Not Asking for It(Feb. 11, 6-7 p.m. CST). In this webinar focusing on the intersection of personal financial wellness and personal stewardship, you will learn how to engage discussion and reflection as a way to develop an individual theology of stewardship. Practical budgeting and saving skills for your parish and community also are included.
  • Basics of Endowments (March 5,6-7 p.m. CST). This workshop reviews basic principles and best practices for endowment management.
  • Communications for Episcopal Leaders (March 6, 6-7 p.m. CST). This web conference will explore basic principles and best practices for building engagement within and beyond the congregation, and communicating effectively around major decisions and/or changes in the life of the congregation.
  • Debt:What it is, its impact and what to do with it (March 12, 6-7 p.m. CST). Does your church have debt? Are there different types of debt? Is there "good" debt? How does it impact your mission? We will discuss these central themes and review strategies for debt reduction or elimination as well as opportunities to bring the congregation together around common goals.
  • Leading a Major Change (April 8, 6-7 p.m. CST). Leading change can be one of the most rewarding – and challenging – aspects of lay and clergy leadership in Episcopal congregations. This web conference focuses on general principles and best practices for leading a change process effectively.

To register or for more information, visit

Interested in seminary?

If so, the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., is offering a “Come and See” visitation weekend Feb. 20-22. More information is on the school’s website,

Anniversaries of ordinations

Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:

Jan. 3: The Rev. Edwin Sisk, licensed from the Diocese of Arkansas (44 years)

Jan. 5: The Rev. Alan Tilson, non-parochial (29 years); the Rev. David Jenkins, Covenant, Junction City (1 year); the Rev. David Lynch, St. James’, Wichita (1 year); the Rev. Adrianna Shaw, non-parochial (1 year)

Jan. 7: The Rev. Antoinette Tackett, St. Paul’s, Coffeyville (3 years); the Rev. Dixie Junk, St. Paul’s, Kansas City (3 years); the Rev. Patrick Funston, St. Paul’s, Manhattan (2 years)

Jan. 10: The Rev. Brian J. Viel, non-parochial, Diocese of Western Kansas (5 years)

Jan. 14: The Rev. Andrew O’Connor, Good Shepherd, Wichita (8 years)

Stay in touch via Facebook and Twitter

You can find news, features and updates from the diocese on social media. We’re on Facebook – EpiscopalDioceseofKansas ( – and Twitter – @EpiscoKs.

Next DioLog

The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Jan. 16. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Parishes are free to excerpt anything printed in DioLog; attributionthat material is reprinted fromDioLogis appreciated. Feel free to copy this and make it available to parishioners in whatever way is most useful.

If you do not wish to receive this publication, you may unsubscribe from DioLog by sending an email to .

DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, 835 SW Polk Street, Topeka, KS 66612.